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The Milwaukee Bucks got significantly better on the offensive end of the floor.
Nonetheless, it’s no secret that Jrue Holiday is considered one of the best defenders in the NBA, so losing him could be a big blow on the defensive end of the court.
That’s why former NBA player Kenny Smith is concerned about how this team could fare against prime scorers, such as Jimmy Butler or Stephen Curry, as Holiday was usually given the task of taking on the rival’s best scorer (via NBACentral).
Kenny Smith is concerned about Milwaukee’s defense against stars like Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry without Jrue Holiday
“Defensively, now who takes that assignment that Jrue Holiday used to take? Because Jrue Holiday would take the 1, 2, or 3 – whatever that best player was.… pic.twitter.com/NSYMyHaMWr
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 25, 2023
That’s a valid concern, but it’s not like the Bucks don’t have other defenders.
They have Giannis Antetokounmpo, a former winner of the prestigious Defensive Player of the Year award and a top big-man defender in the league.
However, Giannis has rarely guarded the best player on other teams, which is one of the biggest complaints the fans had about coach Mike Budenholzer.
But in that same breath, Butler had great success against Holiday in the playoffs last season, and coach Budenholzer continued to stick to that defensive assignment, which cost the Bucks dearly.
No one can deny that Holiday is a spectacular and talented defender.
However, the Bucks are now a different team, and they can beat you in many different ways.
For instance, how are teams supposed to stop Damian Lillard on the perimeter when they have to worry about Giannis not getting the ball close to the rim?
The concerns about losing Holiday are valid, but this team has more than enough resources to overcome that issue.
The post NBA Analyst Shares 1 Concern About Bucks This Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.